Machine for uniting knit fabrics



No. 606,626. Patented Aug- 9, I898.

.1. H. SEGUR. MACHINE FOB UNITING KNIT FABRICS.

(Application filed Sept. 15, 1897.)

4 Sheets-Shut I.

(No Model.)

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Patented Aug. 9, 1898:. J. H. 8500B.

MACHINE FOR UNITING KNIT FABRICS.

(Application filed Sept. 15, 1897.)

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IIIII IIIII I EIIIII Z-VMM Patented Aug. 9, I898. J. H. SECOR. MAQHINE FOR UNITING KNIT FABRICS.

(Application filed Sept. 15, 1897.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3- Wii asses No. 608,626. Patented Aug. 9, I898. J. H. SECOR. MACHINE FOR UNITING KNIT FABRICS.

(Application filed Sept. 15, 1897.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

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JACOB 1'1. SECOR, OF ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN.

MACHINE IFOVR UNITING KNIT'FABRICS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 608,626, dated August 9, 1898. Application filed September 15, 1397. Serial No. 651,733- (NO del) To aZZ whom it may concern 7 Be it known that I, JACOB H. SEOOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. J oseph, in the county of Berrien and Stateof Michigan, have invented a new and useful Machine for Uniting Knit Fabrics, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for uniting knit fabrics, and particularly to chainloopers; and the object in view is to provide a device of this class having means for form i ng an open or spread loop whereby the seam formed between connected fabrics is elastic in the direction of the elasticity of the con nected fabrics to prevent drawing at the seam and to relieve the latter of unnecessary strain in use.

A further object of the invention is a pro-" vide movable looping-pins, which are projected into the pathof the thread-needle at the point of operation and are automatically folded after they have performed their function to withdraw them from the work.

A further object of the invention is to provide shifting or shunting devices for throwmg the looping-pins out of operative positionand into view, whereby the condition thereof may be inspected and whereby they may be readily removed separately for purposes of repair.

Further objects and advantages of this vention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a looping-machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side View, partly in section, of the same. Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the needle, looper, gage-plate, and the cooperating parts, showing the needle-bar at the end of its back stroke. Fig. 5 is a similar View of the same parts, showing the needle-bar at the end of its forward stroke. 7 Fig.6 is a detail view of a portion of theinner surface of the stationary guide-ring to show the adjustable cam-block and the relative positions of the looping-pins. Fig. 7 is a partial side view of the table, partly broken away, to show the shifting or shunting cam and the relative positions of the looping-pins. Fig. 8 is a detail View in perspective of the shifting or shunting cam. Fig. 9 is a detail View in pcrspective of one of the looping-pins detached. Fig. 10 is a similar view of one of the impalingpins. Fig. 11 is a similar view of the looperarm and swivel. Fig 12 is a similar View of the rotary cam and the shoe which traverses the eccentric rim' or flange of said cam for comm unicating motion to the needle bar. Fig. 13 is a detail side view of the threadclamp-operatin g mechanism. Fig. 14: is a de tail sectional view of the needle-arm to show the thread-clamp. Fig. 15 is a detail View in perspective of the looper-arm stop.

Similar numerals of reference indicate cor-= responding parts in all the figures of the draw h1g3.-

. 1 designates a stationary base or frame having an arm 2, provided with a terminal hub 3, in which is fitted the central upright t of a circular table 5, said upright being secured in the hub by means of a set-screw 6. Mounted upon the table is a rotary annular disk 7, provided with a peripheral series of impalingpins 8, the upper surfaces of which are approximately flush with the contiguous rim of the disk and are grooved or channeled, as shown clearly in the detail View Fig. 10,

said grooves or channels extending from the basesor inner ends of the pins approximately to their outer pointed extremities. These impaling-pins are embedded in the illner surface of the rim 9, which forms the outer inclined wall of a seat 10, provided for the reception of a sectional securing-ring 11,

whereby when the sections of said securingring are fitted in place the impalingpins are firmly fastened and whereby the removal of a section of the securing-ring provides for the removal and replacement of the impalingpins. The rotary disk is held in place by a journal-ring 12, which is secured to the table contiguous to its periphery ando'verlaps the contiguous inner edge of the disk.

The periphery of the rotary disk is provided with a circumferential groo've'13 for an elastic holding-ring 14, preferably consisting of a. fine coiled spring, and intersecting this groove and also formed in the periphery of the rotary disk is a series of pin-seats corresponding in number with the impaling-pins and alining, respectively, with the intervals therebetween. These pin-seats are designed for the reception of looping-pins 15, and as the said seats are open at their outer sides the upper portions of the looping-pins are yieldingly held in their seats by means of the elastic holding-ring 14-, while a limited outward deflection of said pins is permitted by the yielding of said ring for a purpose hereinafterexplained. The shanks or straight portions 15 of the looping-pins terminate at their lower extremities in outwardlyextending heads 15, which lit in a guide-groove 16 in the outer wall of a cross-sectionally angularfixed guide-ring 17 ,which is secured to the under surface of the table, and this guide-groove is deflected upwardly, as shown at 18, at a point contiguous to the supporting-arm 2, in order to guide the heads of the loopingpins upwardly and cause the inwardly-deflected upper ends 15 thereof to project above the plane of the impaling-pins, the tips 15 of said pins being sharply curved inwardly and tapered for a purpose hereinafter set forth. In the crest of the deflected portion 18 of the guide-groove is arranged a vertically-adjustable cam-block 19, havingbeveled extremities adapted to engage and elevate the loopingpins, and mounted upon the guide-ring for cooperation with said block atits lower edge is the beveled extremity of an ad justing-slide 20, havinga set-screw 21 or equivalent means for securing it at the desired adjustment, and hence holding the cam-block at the desired elevation. In the construction illustrated I employ means for facilitating the adjustment of the slide and at the same time indieating the position thereof, said means consisting of the said set-screw 21, which is constructed in the form of a thumb-screw and is threaded into the slide after passing through a slot 22 in the table, and said thumb-screw also engages a swinging pointer pivoted concentrically with the slot 22 and traversing a segmental scale on the table. It will be seen that by swinging the pointer by means of the thumb-screw after loosening the latter the slide may be moved to a greater or less extent to control the position of the cam-block, after which the thumb-screw may be turned to lock the parts, including the slide, in the desired position,

Mounted in suitable bearings on the main frame or base is a driving-shaft 23, provided with an operating-crank 24- and a belt-pulley 25, either of which may be used to comin unicate rotary motion to the shaft, said belt-pulley being fitted to slide upon the shaft and having a clutch connection therewith consisting of a stud or pin 26 on the pulley for engagement with the peripheral notches of a clutch-disk 27, secured to the shaft, a shifting lever 28 being mounted upon the base and having engagement with a grooved collar 29 on the pulley.

Secured to the drivin g-shaft is an eccentric 30, encircled by an eccentric-strap 31, to which is connected a feed-pawl 32, engaging a feedwheel 33, mounted on the table, the spindle 34 of said feed-wheel carrying a pinion 35, which meshes with an annular rack 36 on the under side of the rotary disk. Cooperating with the feed-wheel is a stop-pawl 37, mounted upon the table.

Mounted upon a spindle 2, extending laterally from the supporting-arm 2, is a needle-bar 38, carrying a thread-needle 39 for reeiproeatory movement in the grooved or channeled upper faces of the impaling-pins, said thread needle being of curved and flexible or yielding construction, whereby it is adapted to follow the grooved upper surfaces of the impaling-pins, irrespective of any slight deflection thereof from a horizontal plane,without disarran gement of or injury to any of the cooperating parts. The in cans employed for holding the hub or sleeve 40 of the needle-bar on the spindle is the hub or sleeve 41 of a tension-arm 42, supporting the tension-disks 43, which are held in frictional contact by means of a tension-sprin g 44, held at the desired tension by an adjusting-nut 45, which in turn is locked at the desired adjustment by means of a jam-nut 40. The sewing-thread after leaving the spool or reel 47 passes between the tensiondisks, and thence through a notched stud or guide 48 to the thread-needle.

Fixed upon the driving-shaft is a cam 4-9, carrying an eccentric flange or rim 50, upon which is mounted a shoe 51, carried by the operating-arm 52 of the needle-bar, said shoe having flanges which bear, respectively, against the inner and outer surfaces of the eccentric flange or rim, whereby the motion communicated by the driving-shaft to the needle-bar is continuous and serves to positively move the needle-bar in both directions.

Swiveled upon the base or frame by means of a swivel-pin 53 is a looper-arm 54, said arm being preferably bifurcated at its rear end and pivotally mounted upon the squared upper end or collar of said swivel-pin, thus providing for swinging movement horizontally and vertically of the looper-arm. The looper 55, which is carried by the free end of the looper-arm, is bifurcated to allow the same to straddle the thread-needle and terminates in a transversely-disposed or hook portion, which is also bifurcated and is pointed to facilitate the engagement of a thread carried through the eye 56, arranged in the path of the thread-needle. This looper is provided with a shank portion 57, fitted in a split portion of the looper-arm, whereby it is capable of adjustment to raise or lower the operative extremity of the looper, the latter being held at the desired adjustment by means of a set-screw 58, by which the jaws of the split portion may be drawn together to clamp the shank of the looper.

The free end of the looper-arm is yieldingly held elevated by means of a spring 59, which is supported by the needle-bar, the

tension of said spring serving to hold the shoe G0 at an intermediate point of the looper-arm in contact with the periphery of the cam 49. The shoe of the looper-arm is provided with a lateral ear which bears againstthe side surface of the cam, andsaid side surface of the cam is provided with a lateral enlargement 61 and a contiguous latoral depression 62, said depression first coming into registration with the shoe of the looper-arm to allow the looper-arm to yield under the tension of its actuating-spring, after which the enlargement ofthe cain engages the shoe of the looper-arm and swings the latter laterally in the opposite direction. The extent of the enlargement, however, is slight, and after having drawn the loopenarm back out of the path of the thread-needle the termination of the enlargement allows the immediate return of the looper-arm to its normal position, in which it holds the loop of the thread during the backward or return move ment of the thread-needle.

Arranged contiguous to and below the plane of the impaling-pins is a guard-plate 63, of segmental construction, carrying the abovementioned eye 56 and arranged with its upper edge contiguous to the plane of the under surfaces of the impaling-pins, but with its front surface spaced from the contiguous periphery of the rotary disk a sufficient distance to allow articles of fabric which are to be united to pass therebetween, the curved inner surface of said guard following the contour of the periphery of the disk and maintaining the work in operative position. The extremities of the guard-plate are deflected to allow the work to pass freely into the space between its inner surface and the periphery of the disk.

In operation the articles of fabric to be united are arranged upon the impaling-pins in the ordinary way well known in the art to cause each impaling-pin to engage the corresponding edge loops of the articles. Then with the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 4 the rotation of the driving-shaft causes the thread-needle to advance and traverse the upper grooved or channeled surfaces of the impaling-pins, and hence pass through the alined edge loops carried by said impalingpins. The thread-loops carried forward by the thread-needle are then engaged by the looper in the ordinary way, whereby at the limit of the forward stroke of the threadneedle the parts are in the positions illustrated in Fig. 5. As the thread-needle withdraws to the first position illustrated in Fig. 4- this thread-loop is held by the looper. The thread-needle then advances in the plane of the next impaling-pin, the table having been advanced one step by means of the feeding mechanism provided for that purpose; but

as a looping-pin is arranged between each two contiguous impaling-pins it will be seen that this succeeding forward movement of the thread-needle causes it to carry the thread around the looping-pin. As the threadneedle advances the lateral depression of the cam registers with the shoe on the looperarm, and hence allows a slight lateral swinging movement of thelooper-arm in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4. to carry the thread-loop previously engaged thereby beyond the path of the thread-needle, whereby the threadneedle passes therethrough. The enlargement of the cam now causes the swinging movement of the looper-arm in the opposite direction to that indicated by said arrow in Fig. at, whereby the previously-engaged thread-loop is left upon the thread-, needle, the looper being withdrawn from engagement therewith. The looper immediately after its Withdrawal and disengagement of the previous loop is again advanced in the direction indicated by said arrow in Fig. 4 to engage the thread-loop just brought forward by the thread-needle. Hence it will be seen, that while the loop or stitch which is formed by the cooperation of the thread-needle and looper is substantially identical with that heretofore produced by machines of this class the fact that the looping-pins are interposed between the impaling-pins causes each loop or stitch to be formed around a looping-pin. As the work proceeds the stationary camguide with which the looping-pins cooperate withdraws the looping-pins from the loops or, stitches of the work, and thus leaves loose stitches, whereas heretofore the stitches have been drawn more or less tightly, according to the adjustment of the tension devices. In other words, the looping-pins serve as positive means for causing an enlarged or elastic loop for each stitch of the machine, said loop". ing-pins being arranged in such positions that each stitch of the machine is formed therearound. The result of this operation is that the seam formed between united fabrics is approximately, if not fully, as elastic as the fabrics thus united, whereby in use the joints between the connected portions of an article are not strained. Said seams are yielding to correspond with the yielding quality the plane of the impaling-pins the larger will, .be the loops formed in connection therewith.

In this way the size of the stitch-loops may be made to suit the fabrics which are being united.

Obviously the strain upon the looping-pins during the operation of forming the stitchloops is outward, and hence, as hereinbefore described, I employ yielding means for maintaining the looping-pins in their normal positions in the seats provided for their reception, said yielding means consisting of the ITO of the guide-ring.

flexible holding-band. Hence as the stitchloops are being formed any severe strain applied to the same by reason of the tension will cause the engaged looping-pin to yield outwardly, and thus avoid straining the thread and prevent injury to any of the cooperating parts of the mechanism without in any Way interfering with the continuous operation thereof. The abruptly deflected terminal tips of the looping-pins serve to prevent the release of a loop engaged thereby.

In connection with the above -described mechanism I employ a friction-brake 6st, consisting of a plate secured at one end to the stationary portion of the table and having a friction-shoe 65, adjustable by means of a screw 66 and bearing upon the rotary disk.

It becomes desirable, if not necessary, at times to expose the looping-pins for inspection, and hence I have provided a shifting or shunting device consisting of a cam 67,mounted in a guide-recess 68 in the inner surface of the outer wall of the guide-ring and communicating with the guide-groove therein, said cam being pivoted and capable of adj ustment to depress its extremity sufficiently to obstruct the guide-groove and cause the loop ing-pins following said groove to be deflected upwardly. This guide-recess extends to the upper edge of the guide-ring, and hence by arranging the shifting or shunting cam in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 7 the rotation of the disk causes the looping-pins to successively engage said cam and mount to the upper ed go of the guide-ring, as also shown in said Fig. 7, where they are held in their seats solely by the tension of the elastic holding-band. Either or any of the looping-pins may be dismounted when in this position by simply withdrawing the same from beneath the holding-band. The means illustrated for operating the shifting or shunting cam consists of an exterior plate 69, secured to a squared hub on the said cam and provided with a slot 7 O, which is engaged by a set-screw 71. In order to initiate the operation of shifting or shunting the looping-pins,itis necessary to withdraw or manually remove those which are beneath the cam, and to accomplish this I provide a removable slide 72 in the under side When this slide is displaced, the looping-pins beneath the shifting or shunting cam may be withdrawn downwardly through the opening in which said slide fits to allow the cam to be depressed at its free end into the path of the remainingloopin g-pins of the series. The shifting-cam is preferably provided with a spring-tongue 73, which rests upon a wall of the recess in which said cam is fitted, to yieldingly hold the free end of the cam in contact with the floor of the guidegroove when the cam is released to prevent looping-pins from catching upon the extremity thereof in the operation of shunting the same.

In order to facilitate the engagement by the looper of the loop on the thread-needle and insure the drawing of the previously-formed loop, I provide a clamping-guide consisting of a shell or tube 74, provided with a threadnotch 75 and inclosing a reciprocable plunger 76, actuated by a coiled spring 77 and operating in connection with a fixed stop 78, also arranged in said sleeve or tube and held in place by means of a set-screw 79. The stem of the plunger, which extends beyond the contiguous end of the sleeve or tube, is fitted with a collar 80, in connection with which operates a cam-face 81 on a pivotal shifting lever 82. This lever is preferably formed with an actuating-arm 83, having said cam-face, which is slotted at 84: to receive the stem of the plunger, and an adjustable triparm 85, which is secured at the desired adjustment with relation to the operating-arm by means of a set-screw 86. The lever is yieldingly held in its normal position by means of a spring 87 and is adapted when swung rearwardly to release the plunger and allow the latter, under the tension of its actuating-spring, to advance laterally toward the fixed stop, and thereby clamp the thread which extends through the thread notch. The thread, which is shown at 88, after passing through the tension device 43 extends through a loop-guide 89 on the needle-bar, thence through a hook or eye at the free end of a spring-arm 90, (thus forming a yielding guide,) thence through the thread-notch in. the clampingguide, and then forwardly to and through the eye of the needle.

Arranged in the path of the trip-arm of the shifting lever is a fixed stop, which in the construction illustrated consists of the outer wall 9 of the channel 10, and as the needlebar approaches the limit of its forward stroke during the looping operation hereinbefore described the trip-arm comes in contact with said fixed stop and thus applies the clamp to the thread. The clamping of the thread prevents the feeding thereof during the latter portion of the forward stroke of the needle, and hence the needle draws thread from the previously-formed loop instead of drawing it through the tension device. Thus after the needle has carried the thread forward to form one loop which has been engaged by the looper and held during the backward stroke of the needle-bar the succeeding advance movement of the thread-needle through the next interval between the l00ping-pins disengages said former loop from the looper and at the same time obviously forms a succeeding loop. As the previously-formed loop is released from the looper the clamp engages the thread, and hence the continued forward movement of the thread-needle draws upon said previouslyformed loop and contracts it to the proper size to form the stitch.

A further advantage of the above-described thread-clamp is that as it remains in force until the thread-needle has moved on its back stroke through a short distance the beginning of the back stroke causes the loop on the needle to project laterally and thus insure the engagement thereof by the looper. The adjustment of the trip-arm with relation to the operating-arm of the shifting lever provides for causing the clamping of the thread at any desired point in the stroke of the needle-bar.

Inasmuch as the tightness of the stitch formed by the looping mechanism depends greatly upon the extent of lateral movement of the looper-arm, I also employa stop 91, arranged in the path of the lateral movement thereof and consisting of a slotted plate 92, having an upstanding arm 93, in which may be fitted an adjustable stop-pin 94, consisting of a screw threaded in an eye on the arm. In the construction illustrated the stop, including the slotted plate, the upstanding arm, and the eye, is constructed of a single blank of heavy wire,the slot being engaged bya clamping-screw 95, which is one of the screws by which the guard plate is secured to the bedplate. IVhen the looper-hook takes the thread from the thread-needle, it continues its lateral movement until the looper-arm comes in contact with this stop, and as the looperpoint wears this stop must be set forward. Furthermore, the wearing of the shoe and the cam 49 causes the looper to move too far, and hence the adjustment of the stop'is necessary in order to secure uniformity of stitches as the use of the machine is continued.

In practice various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.-

Having described my invention, What I claim is- 1. In a machine for sewing the seams of knit or looped fabrics, the combination with impaling-pins, a thread-needle, and a looper, of movable looping-pins, mounted respectively adjacent to the impaling-pins for eX- -tension at an angle to the plane thereof, and

actuating devices for the looping-pins, substantially as specified.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination withimpaling-pins, a threadneedle, and a looper for cooperating with the thread needle, of looping -pins movably mounted in guides perpendicular to the plane of the impaling-pins, and means for actuating the same to cause their upper extremities to project above the plane of the i1npalingpins, substantially as specified.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with impaling-pins, a threadneedle, and a looper for cooperating with the thread-needle, of looping-pins mounted for movement perpendicular to the plane of the impaling-pins, and adapted to project at their upper ends above the plane thereof, said loopingpins having tips deflected toward the thread-needle and means for actuating the looping-pins, substantially as specified.

I. 111 a machine of the class described,

the combination with impalin g-pins, a threadneedle, and a looper for cooperating with the thread-needle, of looping-pins mounted for reciprocatory movement perpendicular to the plane of the impaling-pins and adapted to project above the plane thereof, said loopingpins having tapered upper portions, and adj ustable actuating means for varying the projection of said looping pins above the plane of the impa1ing-pins, substantially as specified.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with impaling-pins, a threadneedle, and a looper for cooperating with the thread-needle, of looping-pins mounted in guides arranged perpendicular to the plane of the impaling-pins,and respectively in alinement with the intervals therebetween, and means for successively actuatin the loopingpins to arrange their upper extremities above the plane of the impaling-pins, substantially as specified.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with impaling-pins, a threadneedle, and a looper for cooperating with the thread-needle, of loopingpins mounted in open-sided guides arranged perpendicular to the plane of the impaling-pins, and respectively in alinement with the intervals therebetween, a yielding band seated transversely to said guides, and means for actuating the looping-pins to cause their successive projection above the plane of the impaling-pins, substantially as specified.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a thread-needle and a looper, of a rotary disk carrying a peripheral series of outwardly-projecting impaling-pins and provided in alinement, respectively, with the intervals between said impaling-pins with perpendicularly-disposed seats, looping-pins fitted respectively in said seats, and a stationary guide having an irregular guide-groove engaging projections 011 the looping-pins, and adapted to successively advance the same to cause the projection of their upper extremities above the plane of the impaling-pins, substantially as specified.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a thread-needle and a looper, of a rotary disk carryinga peripheral series of outwardly-extending impaling-pins, looping-pins fitted in seats arranged in alinement, respectively,with the intervals between the impaling-pins, a stationary guide-ring having a groove in engagement with enlargements of the looping-pins, and a cam-block arranged contiguous to the plane of the thread-needle for advancing the looping-pins to cause the projection thereof above the plane of the impaling-pins, substantially as speci fied.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a thread-needle and a looper, of a rotary disk carrying impalingpins, looping-pins mounted in guides alined with the intervals between the impaling-pins,

and provided with enlarged heads, a stationary guide ring having a circumferential groove to receive the heads of the loopingpins, an adjustable cam-block arranged on the guide-ring in the path of the heads of the looping-pins, and means for adjusting said cam-block, substantially as specified.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a thread-needle and a looper, of a rotary disk carrying impalingpins, looping-pins mounted in seats respectivelyin alinementwith theintervals between the impaling-pins, a movable cam-block arranged in the paths of the extremities of the looping-pins to actuate the same successively, a slide having a beveled extremity to cooperate with the cam-block, a pivotal index-plate terminally traversing a gage or scale, and a set-serew carried by said index-plate and attached to the slide, substantially as specified.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a thread-needle and a looper, of a rotary disk carrying inipalingpins, looping-pins mounted in seats respectively in alinement with the intervals between the impaling-pins and having their lower extremities enlarged to form heads, a stationary guide-ring provided with a guide-groove to receive said heads, and also provided with means for successively advancing the loopin g-pins contiguous to the plane of the threadneedle, and shunting devices consisting of a shunting-cam mounted in a recess in the guide-ring and adapted to be terminally arranged in the path of the heads of the looping-pins to defiect the same from the guidegroove, and means for securing the shuntingcam at the desired adjustment, substantially as specified.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination with work-holding devices, a looper, a needle-bar, and operating mechanism, of a thread-clamp, and means for actuating the same to clamp the thread at an in termediate point of the stroke of the needlebar and means including a shifting arm, a trip-arm adjustable relatively to the shifting arm, and astop in the path of the trip-arm, substantially as specified.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination with work-holding devices, a looper, a needle-bar, and operating mechanism, of a thread-clamp, and operating devices including a swinging trip-arm carried by the needle-bar, and a fixed stop arranged in the path of the trip-arm, whereby the thread is clamped at an intermediate point of the stroke of the needle-bar, substantially as specified.

14. In a machine of the class described, the combination with Work-holding devices, a looper, a needle-bar, and operating m echanism, of a thread-clamp and operating devices including an adjustable trip-arm, a stop arranged in the path of the triparm, and means for securing the trip-arm at the desired adjustment with relation to the other member of the operating devices whereby the point in the stroke of the needle-bar at which the triparm strikes the stop may be varied, substantially as specified.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination with work-holding devices, a looper, a needle-bar, and operating mechanism, of a thread-clamp including a plunger, a shifting lever operatively connected with the plunger and having a trip-arm, yielding means for maintaining the shiftinglever in its normal position, and a stop arranged in the path of the trip-arm and adapted to actuate the shifting lever to cause the operative movement of the plunger at an intermediate point of the stroke of the needle-bar, substantially as specified.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination with work-holding devices, a looper, a needle-bar, and operating mechanism, of a thread-clamp having a sleeve provided with a thread-notch, a spring-actuated plunger fitted to slide in the sleeve in operative relation with a fixed stop, a shifting lever provided with a camface in operative relation with a collar on theplunger, and having a trip-arm, and a stop arranged in the path of the trip-arm, substantially as specified.

17. In a machine of the class described, the combination with work-holding devices, and a needle-bar and operating mechanism, of a looper-arm, operating mechanism for the looper-arm, an adjustable stop arranged in the path of the looper-arm and having a stoparm, and an adjustable stop-pin threaded in the stop-arm and having its extremity arranged for engagement by the looper-arm, and means for securing the stop-arm in its adj usted positions, substantially as specified.

.18. In a machine of the class described, the combination with work-holding devices, and a needle-bar and operating mechanism, of a looper-arm, operating mechanism for imparting lateral swinging movement to the looper-arn1, a stop having a slotted plate and an upstanding stop-arm, a clamping-screw engaging the slotted plate to secure the stop at the desired adjustment, and an adjustable stop-pin mounted upon said stop-arm and arranged terminally in the path of the looperarm, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JACOB II. SECOR.

YVitnesses:

H. M. lVIARVIN, ALLTE SECOR. 

